German exchange teacher provides valuable lessons for Douglas High School students

BOX ELDER, S.D. — Douglas High School students which might be taking German are discovering themselves .

When strolling down the halls of the highschool, all the way in which to Elke Kuegle’s German class, you’ll discover Maike Bielemeyer, a pupil teacher from Germany, who additionally occurs to be dwelling her dream.

“It’s a lot enjoyable. They snort they usually have tales to inform. I actually love working with children,” Bielemeyer stated.

Bielemeyer is taking a part of a program that brings 15 German academics to varsities across the U.S. In Mrs. Kuegle’s class particularly, that is the fourth teacher assistant within the final six years that’s helped.

But, as Bielemeyer walks from desk to desk, educating her native language, she’s doing what she loves and doing it in a spot that she’s grown to like.

“Honestly, earlier than I got here right here, I used to be like ‘What is South Dakota, the place is it? I’ve by no means heard of it, however as quickly as I obtained right here, I actually began liking it,” she stated.

Roughly 90 students are taking the German courses, with all ranges of issue.

Bielemeyer says that correcting the students errors is one factor, however doing it in one other language is totally different.

“For me, it’s regular stuff, you understand? I hear when one thing is improper, however I by no means studied German and once I got here right here, I actually needed to begin fascinated by ‘how do I clarify it in German?’ I do know that it’s improper however how do I clarify it?” she stated.

With only a few months left to go earlier than the varsity 12 months ends, many are saying that the teacher has left her mark.

“They actually are embracing that, and I believe they actually get pleasure from having one other teacher within the classroom,” Kuegle stated. “You know, they’re an additional set of eyes and ears, and we are able to rotate a lot extra across the classroom and assist the students about.”